Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013
493. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the promised health identifiers Bill; the estimated savings to his estimate by the full implementation of this legislation; the reason PPS numbers cannot be used in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48331/13]
View answerThe Government recently approved the drafting of a Health Identifiers Bill 2013 and it is expected to be published before the end of this year. The implementation of a health identifier will greatly add to patient safety and administrative efficiency. It is also a crucial building block for Money Follows The Patient and Universal Heath Insurance, both cornerstones of the Government Reform Agenda.
The implementation of a sectoral health identifier, separate from the PPS number, was recommended in the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report "Recommendations for a Unique Heath Identifier for Ireland" (2009) and is in line with recommendations made by the Commission on Patient Safety in their 2008 report "Building a Culture of Patient Safety". A sectoral identifier for health will provide the best assurance to the public of the confidentiality of their medial records.
Implementation of a patient identifier is recognised as being an essential infrastructural initiative which will facilitate many significant improvements to the health system in areas such as reduced adverse events and improved data access and quality. It will provide many revenue and cost recovery/avoidance opportunities and it is also a fundamental requirement for deploying e-Health solutions. It is not practicable at this point to quantify in monetary terms the savings arising from implementing a system of individual health identifiers because the savings will accrue from the subsequent developments and opportunities made possible by the systems of unique identification rather than the system of unique identification itself.
It is intended that the health identifier will leverage the existing identity management infrastructure administered by the Minister for Social Protection, including the Public Services Card, which is currently being deployed.
My Department is engaging with all relevant stakeholders including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Data Protection Commissioner and HIQA in relation to this matter.
